ies began to be opened up through the newly formed women's colleges of the time. Still, the sports which were opened to women were essentially "nonstrenuous and nonspectator-centered" (166). Women were encouraged to participate only in amateur sports such as croquet, golf, and tennis. Men, on the other hand, were encouraged to pursue high-paying and prestigious careers in the field of professional sports.
In 1896, when the first modern Olympics were held in Athens, women did not participate in the games. Although women were allowed to compete in certain sports starting as early as 1900, it was not unt
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